Clutch



Feb. 7, 1933.* Q R. PATON l 1,896,914

CLUTCH Filed NOV. 5, 1927 5 Z ,QU/fg l INV EN TOR.

CWA-5cl@ @often Z4 BY WMM? ATTORN Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE'R. PATON, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STUDEBAKER COR- PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORIORATION OFVNEW JERSEY CLUTCH 7Aplvilieation led November 3, 1927. Serial No. 230,776.

This invention relates to vehicle clutches and more particularly to the friction plates thereof, the principal object being to provide a clutch plate with means for preventing engine vibrationfrom being transmitted to the vehicle transmission.

Another Objectis to provide a vehicle clutch with a flexible driving connection betweenthe clutch plate andv thevehicle driving means to eliminate wear and tear on the vehicle transmission and to allow smoother operation of the same. AnothergobjectA is to 'provide a vehicle clutch with a damped friction disc between the clutch plate and the hub thereof to provide aresilient driving' connectionwhereby engine vibrationsand noises are prevented from being transmitted to the vehicle transmission `to insure smoother operation and longer life of the same.

A further object is to provide a vehicle clutch with a damped friction disc" between the clutch plate and the driving hub thereof to form a resilient driving connectiom spring means regulatingthe amount of friction between the disc and plate, and positive,v stops limiting'the degree of movementof theplate relative to the hub. v y l i These beingamong the objects of the present invention. the same .consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to` the accompanying drawing Vand then claimed` having the above and other objects in view. l

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a .suitable embodiment of the pres-` ent invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views` Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a clutch driven plate showingV the positive stops. A

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 sh owing the friction disc between the hub and the driven platef l VFigurew is anv enlarged vpartial section 'taken on `the line` of Figure 1 showing one of the positive stops and one of theV friction regulating means.V

F'gure 4 is aplan view of the friction disc.`

`Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective viewl of one of the stop members.

In the type of clutch illustrated in 'the drawing, driving torqueis transmittedfrom the engine crankshaft tof the vehicle transmission by means of a single clutch plate 10 which is secured to the flange 1 1 of a hub r12. r having aysplined connection with the main transmission shaft. The driven plate lOIfis positioned between ftwo4 oppositely disposedA pressure plates brought together -under frictional engagement with the circular friction portions 13 secured-nto thefopposite sides of the plate 10, by a plurality ofrivets14.

In clutches used heretofore, the driven plate was secured directly to the hubby rivets orthe like', making a metal to metal contact.

v spring pressure to drive the plate 10 by'their Consequently, engine vibrations and noises v were transmitted to the vehicle transmission, also sudden applications of driving torque were directly transmitted to the transmission. Within the ordinary rangeo'fdriving speeds the sudden'application of torque and 75 the continual vibration of the engine is detrimental to the transmission, giving rise to noisy operation and decreased life of both the transmission and engine. It is, therefore, very `practical and very advantageous to provide aresilient driving'c'onnection between the engine and transmission. f

' A resilient driving connection is developed lin vthe present invention which is very satisfactory and very efficient. VThe clutch hub V12 and the driven'plate 10 are'securedtogether to have restrained circular movement relative: to' each other' and this is accomi w plished by means of a circular disc -15 of l suitable friction material positioned between 'the attaching surface of the plate 10l and the hub fiange 11. Three bolts 16l spaced 120 apart, eachhaving a coil spring 17 and a washer 18 adjacent the head thereof, unite the fiange `11 and plate 10. Each bolt 16 eX- tends through an enlarged opening19 in the flange 11 through an opening 20 in the friction disc 15and through an openingof the same diameter in the drivenV plate 10,' la nut 21 being threaded on the end of the bolt eX- tending through the clutch plate 10. The

amount of resistance between the plate 10 and the hub flange 11 may be regulated by threading or unthreading the nut 21 on the bolt 16.

It is necessary to limit the degree of relative movement between the driven plate 10 and hub -11 to eliminate thefpossibility of shearin'gtfhebolts 16. i

Rectangular shaped notches 22 are formed at 60 intervals around the. peripheral. edge. of the hub lflange 11... Positioned within each of these notches r22 and spaced from the sides thereof, is a rectangular shaped stop 23 riveted to the driven plate 10, the base 24 of the plug 23 being of greater width than kthe p0rtion of the plug within' the notch 22 to provide al seat for the' flan-ge' 11 of the hub 12 inparallel alignment with the plate rThe stfops-23`allow a predetermined limited movef -T ment ofthe Vhub 152`relajtive tothe plate 10.

The operation of the clutch plate will undoubted'lybe apparent fromthe foregoing description. It can be'seen` that sudden accelerations'andgdecelerations of the engine are accomplished-by relative movements between the clutchl plate I Oand hub 1'2, the

enlarged openings-19- surrounding the bolts f. 161a-llowiing this movement. The friction ldisc 15 resists the movement or rather damps the vmovement andthe stops- 234 limit the degree ofmovement. It can be seen that theV movement :is damped bythe springs 17V and that' the springs may be adjusted to increase or decrease the friction-"between the hub liange 11 and plate 101 The present invention operates both when the drive is from the enginey to they rear axle and when itis from the rea-r axle to the engine. It is evident 'under ordinary driving conditions, the clutch plate prevents engine vibrations and sud-den torque impulses from being transmitted to the transmissionwith the result that the life of the transmission isy prolonged and that smoother operation'of the same isl obtained.

f Th'eclntch plate is' simple inits` construction,

cal to manufacture. Y -V y y l Although. a preferred Iconstruction is shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that formal changes may 'be madefin the speeasyV to 'asse ble andV comparatively economi- Vcific embodiment of the inventifondescrilbed without departing fromfthe spirit and substance'of the broad invention, the scopejof which is commensurate with the appended Y claims.

l VVha'tIclaim is: 7 Y

Ina clutch, a clutch plate, a hub therefor :liav'ingmovement relativelthereto, a rcircumferential-flange on said' hub, a friction disc between ysaid flan'geuand plat'e, stops for limiting the movement between said; hub and plata-bolts 'extending from'said flange, and y coiled springs surroundingzsaid bolts holding fsaid disc infrictional yContactY with said' flange to dampen said movement between sai-dhu'b and plate.l

frictional contact'to dampen l'said movement between said plate land hub.

3. In a clutch, a clutch plate, a concentric hubtherefor having Vmovement relative thereto, stops limiting said movement, a circumferential liange on said hub having a pluralityof openings therein, 'adiscof fibrous material'` on Vsaid plate engageable with` saidV i fla-nge, bolts extending through said' openings and through said plate, said bolts being of less, diameterY than said openings,coiled compression springson said bolts` holding said flange 'and' said disc 'in frictional engagement, andV nuts threaded onsaidboltsto control the compression in; vsaid springs "whereby sai/d? motion between said plate `sind hubfis-danrped by said springs. i'

4Q. In a clutch, .a clutch plate, a concentric hub therefor having movement relative thereto, .fa-circumferential flange on said hiibfhaving a-,plnrali-ty of rectangular shaped notches around ,the perimeter thereof, a# friction disc of fibrous. material V"betweeny said iange `'an-.d plate, coiled springs holding said V'disc in circumferential engagement with said flange tof-d-ampensaid movement therebetween, and a plurality of stopssecured to said plate having theirsides spaced from .the side Walls-lof said notches whereby contact between` said stops and the walls'ofsaid notches limits said-.movement between saidplate @and hub;

5. Ina "clutch, .ar clutch plate, a concentric hub therefor having movement rerlativetheref c l to, a circumferential flange on said lfhubhaving a pluralityV of,apertures` anda plurality of rectangular shaped .notches varound the periphery thereof, a fibrous disc .between said flange and plate, a plurality .ofholts extending through Vsaid apertures and through said plate, said bolts being of less diameter than i saidapertures to*V have movementv therein,

coiled compressionsprings on saidbolts forcing-said disc and'flange into frictional engagement', said `springs dampin'gsaid movement between said hub and plate, and a plurality of stops secured 'tosaid' plate and stops being received by said notches inspaced relationship to the walls .thereof whereby-.said stops limit said movement .of said hub relative to said plate.

having movement relative tofsaidV plate, a friction member positioned between said hub and plate,a coiled spring holding saidimember zin frictional ContactV with said hub to p Y Y ina 6. In a clutch,'a clutch; plate, a hub Vtherefor. I

dampen the movement between said hub and plate, and a stop member secured to said plate engageable with said hub to limit the relative movement between said plate and hub.

7. In a clutch, a clutch plate, a hub therefor having movement relative to said plate, a non-yielclable friction member positioned between said hub and plate, a coiled spring adjustably maintaining said member in fric- -tional Contact with said hub to dampen the movement between said hub and plate, and a stop member rigid'with said plate engagieable with said hub to limit the relative movement between said plate and hub.

Signed by me at South Bend, Indiana, this 81st clay of October, 1927.

CLYDE R. PATON. 

